IVF & Gall stones

Hi,

I've been suffering from severe chest pain like heart attacks for the past six months. I've seen 7 different doctors and been to a hospital emergency room three times.

It all started with my 3rd full IVF cycle and initially my FS thought it was OHSS, however the OHSS specialist thought I was just suffering from a virus. I've had so many people and Doctors suggest this was perhaps stress related due to our failure of falling pregnant and pressure at work.

Anyway - these pains were in my chest region and could last up to 8 hours. Typically lasting around 4 hours leving me emotionally and physically exhausted. The pain is excruciating and just builds and builds. I have even been to see a cardiologist. Last week I discussed these recurring "attacks" with my FS who told me not to bother pursuing it and its most likely just a progesterone surge. He had even seen me during one of my "attacks" and felt it wasn't worth investigating and just to continue on the ivf journey.

It's cost my husband and I an absolute fortune, but finally I have my answer! The youngest Doctor I have ever seen ordered a routine ultra-sound and low and behold - I had gall stones. I was so happy to find something wrong with me that I cried with pure joy. All these months of thinking that I was having panic attacks and Doctors telling me that this is purely in my head and that they have other patients going through IVF with similar symptoms. - HENCE WHY I FELT THIS INFORMATION WAS IMPORTANT TO POST IN THIS FORUM.

Apparently gall stones are very common in IVF patients due to the increase in hormones - so I just really wanted to share my experience and put some details below regarding what it is and how it can effect you.

I had my gall bladder removed 2 days ago and if I hadn't persisted with questioning Doctors - I came very close to suffering severe side effects - including death.

I do hope that no one else is going through this but just in case : -

Gallstones
A gallstone, is a lump of hard material usually range in size from a grain of sand to 3-4 cms. They are formed inside the gallbladder formed as a result of precipitation of cholesterol and bile salts from the bile.

Other causes are related to excess excretion of cholesterol by liver through bile. They include the following

Gender. Women between 20 and 60 years of age are twice as likely to develop gallstones as men.

Obesity. Obesity is a major risk factor for gallstones, especially in women.

Oestrogen. Excess oestrogen from pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, or birth control pills

Cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Diabetes. People with diabetes generally have high levels of fatty acids called triglycerides.

Rapid weight loss. As the body metabolizes fat during rapid weight loss, it causes the liver to secrete extra cholesterol into bile, which can cause gallstones.

Symptoms

Many people with gallstones have no symptoms. These patients are said to be asymptomatic, and these stones are called "silent stones." Gallstone symptoms can be similar to those of heart attack, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, hiatal hernia, pancreatitis, and hepatitis. Accurate diagnosis is important.

Symptoms may vary and often follow fatty meals, and they may occur during the night.

abdominal bloating
recurring intolerance of fatty foods
steady pain in the upper abdomen that increases rapidly and lasts from 30 minutes to several hours
pain in the back between the shoulder blades
pain under the right shoulder
nausea or vomiting
Indigestion & belching
Diagnoses
Ultrasound is the most sensitive and specific test for gallstones.

Other diagnostic tests may include

Blood tests - may be used to look for signs of infection, obstruction, pancreatitis, or jaundice.
Computed tomography (CT) scan may show the gallstones or complications.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). ? Under sedation a telescope is passed via the stomach into the duodenum. The bile duct is accessed and a special x-ray dye used to look for stones that have passed into the bile duct. These can then be extracted.
HIDA scan ? a special scan that assesses the function of the gallbladder. A gallbladder damaged by stones and inflammatory tends to lose the ability to contact and empty properly.

Oh hun - I really really feel for you. I currently have gallstones (waiting to get the sucker removed) but mine was diagnosed before I started to have attacks. Having that sort of pain and not knowing what caused it would have been horrible for you. :hug: I'm also a little shocked that there were doctors who thought it was ok to dismiss this level of pain as some how kind of normal (???)!! I suspect mine came about during my second pregnancy so I'm not at all surprised to hear that they can be a by-product of the high hormone levels during IVF treatment.

Thank you so much for sharing. I really hope you can continue your IVF in much greater comfort and most of all I wish you success!

Thanks for sharing TLO. I had no idea of the possible link.

I hope you are resting up and feeling a whole lot better. Take it easy hun.
xx

TLO - Im sorry to hear you have gone through this. It shows just how important it is to persist with your Drs. Thanks for leaving this info also, hopefully it will help prevent someone else going through this.

I hope you have a speedy recovery and feel better soon.

Thanks TLO, that is very interesting! Good to know just in case.

I'm sorry you had to suffer like that for so long, I have heard that the pain is unbearable.

Thank goodness some young Dougie Howser suggested an U/S....I would have thought that they would do that first to rule anything out??? Silly huh.

hey

i too have had gall stones and i had attacks twice a week for 6 months and had lost so much weight that it was making me even sicker from all the weight loss. at the end i couldnt even eat an apple without having an attack!!! it took them 3 months to relise what it was then another 3 months to take the gall bladder out. found 50 small stones in my gall bladder and was so happy it was over.

so i just wanted to let you know how sorry i am that you had to go through this and it would of been worse when they were telling you it was in your head!! i cant believe that, it's not good enough, they are there to help not make you worse.

please take care and rest as much as you can, you have been through a very rough time.

P.S. thanks for all the info ;) i had no idea

It's so lovely of you all to be so sympathetic. I really appreciate it.

I'm resting up and feel that in the end, this is a positive thing for me and DH. No wonder why my body wasn't able to get a BFP. Perhaps, now we will.

I'm too upset to go back to my FS for my last FET so going to transfer to another Doctor who has just joined QFG. I'm hoping it's all going to be a good, positive sign.

Tarn.

TLO,

just wanted to thank you for making the time and effort to post this and thinking of others when you have yourself to look after at the moment. Very unselfish of you and I hope you are rewarded with lots of good karma and a great 2009!

TLO...same thing happened to me! Had the gallbladder removed and then 4 weeks later appendicitis! Apparently that's really common after gall bladder removal too...so keep an eye on any recurring pain. On a happier note...once all that was sorted we have fallen pregnant on our own after 10 years of IVF? Makes you wonder hey?

Thanks for that Ellie. Luckily (?) or not luckily - I had my appendix taken out in 2000. Turns out that pain was just me ovulating!!!!
Anyway - it's good to hear you were successful - hopefully I can emulate that as well.
Tarn

Tarn, a new FS can be really good for trying new things and getting on a new path. I hope it works out better for you.

Yay the pain was just you ovulating. Have you felt O before?

Hi Dusty,

I'm really excited about my new FS who seems to have a bit more of a hollistic approach. The initial consultation is for 1hr with him. I don't think I've ever spent that long with my previous FS. His name is Dr. Yazdani and one of my friends has used him before - and is about 5 weeks away from giving birth.

I always feel my body ovulating. Sometimes it absolutely drops me to the ground but the pain goes away. I've spoken to Drs about it before but they haven't indicated that it is anything abnormal. I didn't even put it together with ovulating until I started doing AIH cycles and the same pain coincided with the time of implantation and I was like.... I can't believe that is me ovulating as I had never tracked it. Now I track everything!

Tarn.